COUNTRY,
BLUEGRASS & OLD-TIMEY
Doug Sahm
-> Ricky Skaggs
MIKE SEEGER |
Smithsonian Folkways 40107 |
Southern Banjo Sounds |
● CD $15.98 |
26 tracks, 65 minutes, recommended
Fantastic collection of
rural Southern banjo music characterized by Seeger's respectful and
affectionate approach to traditional music. The result is a wide ranging
and fascinating tour through the many musical styles associated with the
banjo, everything from clawhammer to the 3 finger picking style
popularized by Earl Scruggs, with a surprising number of variations in
between. It's just Seeger and his instrument here, but monotony is avoided
as nearly every tune features a different type of banjo, many of which are
illustrated in the many color photos found in the extensive booklet.
Fellow banjo players will particularly value this disk as Seeger includes
extensive notes detailing tunings, picking styles, and technique, but all
fans of old time country music will enjoy this impressive project. (DP)
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SELDOM SCENE |
Rebel 1103 |
Live At The Cellar Door |
● CD $15.98 |
The group's most popular album now available on CD.
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SELDOM SCENE |
Rebel 1528 |
Act 3 |
● CD $15.98 |
Reissue of 1973 album, with guests Ricky Skaggs and Clayton
Hambrick. 12 cuts.
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SELDOM SCENE |
Rebel 1536 |
Old Train |
● CD $15.98 |
With guests Linda Ronstadt and Ricky Skaggs.
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SELDOM SCENE |
Sugar Hill 2202 |
15th Anniversary Celebration |
● CD $15.98 |
2-LP complete on one CD, over seventy minutes recorded live
at the Kennedy Center.
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SELDOM SCENE |
Sugar Hill 2501 |
Scene 20 - 20th Anniversary Concert |
● CD $25.98 |
Two CD set.
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SELDOM SCENE |
Sugar Hill 3736 |
At The Scene |
● CD $15.98 |
First CD issue of this album from 1983. This edition of the
Seldom Scene includes the vocals and guitar of Phil Rosenthal along with
the contribution of longtime Scene stalwarts Tom Gray, Ben Eldridge, Mike
Auldridge, and John Duffey. 10 selections in all, including four Rosenthal
originals and the usual eclectic song selection, sharp instrumental work,
and tight harmonies that have always marked this band's work. My personal
favorite here is the country ballad It Turns Me Inside Out
featuring Duffey's aching tenor vocal and great harmony. Also includes A
Girl I Know/ Jamaica/ Say You Will/ Open Up The Window, Noah/ Winter Wind
and Born Of The Wind.
RP
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SELDOM SCENE |
Sugar Hill 3763 |
A Change Of Scenery |
● CD $15.98 |
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MACK SELF |
Gee-Dee 270130 |
Vibrate |
● CD $19.98 |
Country and rockabilly from this Arkansas performer
including all his Sun sides plus cuts from the 60s and 70s.
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SHAVER |
New West 6003 |
Victory |
● CD $16.98 |
12 tracks, 37 mins, highly recommended
Terrific new all
acoustic album by the talented Billy Joe Shaver accompanied by son Eddie.
He recycles some songs from his previous albums including Live Forever/
If I Give My Soul / Old Five And Dimers and others which have a
different feel in this acoustic setting. There are some excellent new
songs, often with a flavor, including You Can't Beat Jesus Christ/ My
Mother's Name Is Victory/ Presents From The Past, and my favorite, the
tender and beautiful I'm In Love. The album opens with an acapella
song Son Of Calvary. Wonderful stuff. (FS)
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SHAVER |
New West 6007 |
Electric Shaver |
● CD $16.98 |
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BILLY JOE SHAVER |
Bear Family BCD 15775 |
Honky Tonk Heroes |
● CD $21.98 |
25 cuts, 79 min, recommended
Sometimes Richard Weize really
picks 'em. In the wake of the acclaim garnered by Shaver's 1993
"Tramp On Your Street", album , Bear's reissued both his 1976
Capricorn LPs, a 1974 MGM single and an unreleased MGM recording on one
CD. Though he wrote many of his greatest numbers back then, his own
recording career had its share of problems. The MGM material was quite
respectable. The first Capricorn album wasn't bad, particularly Ride Me
Down Easy Woman Is the Wonder of the World and When the Word
Was Thunderbird. His patriotic number, America You Are My Woman
is one of the few country patriotic songs that doesn't go completely
overboard. Jimmy Guterman makes a good point about Shaver's second
Capricorn effort, "Gypsy Boy". A few fine performances shined
through, most notably I'm Going Crazy in 3/4 Time (with Emmylou and
Rodney Crowell singing harmony) and You Asked Me To. The problem
with this one was Brian Ahern, whose main focus in those days was
producing then-wife Emmylou Harris, and didn't know what to do with Billy
Joe. According to Shaver, who Guterman interviewed for this set, genius
Ahern wouldn't even let Shaver record some of his old songs (he rejected
the now-classic I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal). Aside from hearing
Shaver in the Outlaw days, the set makes a couple of points: one, the
Monument material needs reissuing and two, Shaver didn't make the record
of his career for nearly 20 years after these recordings. (RK)
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BILLY JOE SHAVER |
Compadre 66422 |
The Real Deal |
● CD $13.98 |
16 tracks, 62 mins, highly recommended
Just
got around to this 2005 release, one that finds an original outlaw in fine
form. A couple of the tracks here, including the lead off Live Forever,
got a good amount of play on satellite radio and other alternative
mediums, so you might have all ready heard some of this. Big & Rich (who I
couldn't care less about), Kimmie Rhodes, Nanci Griffith and Kevin Fowler
make the right kind of guest appearances, respectfully adding to the songs
without trying to be the star, probably something to do with the stature
of the artist whose work they are appearing on. This is definitely a
choice outing that measures up to the best in Shaver's work: thoughtful
and introspective, but still able to cut loose when needed. Top-notch
players accompany throughout making for a rich sounding record that's a
joy to listen to. Great liner notes by Texas Governor in waiting (still)
Kinky Friedman. (JM)
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BILLY JOE SHAVER |
Koch 7938 |
Old Five And Dimers Like Me |
● CD $11.98 |
Reissue of Monument 32293 from 1973 produced by Kris
Kristofferson with two bonus unissued cuts.
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JAMES ALAN SHELTON |
Copper Creek 178 |
Guitar Tracks |
● CD $15.98 |
Fine all instrumental album featuring 13 old time and
bluegrass tunes played by the talented lead guitarist for Ralph Stanley's
Clinch Mountain Boys. He is accompanied by several fellow band members on Sugarfoot
Rag/ Barbara Allen/ The Ghost Train/ Road Weary Blues/ Snow Deer/ Rosewood
Casket, etc.
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THE SHELTON BROTHERS |
B.A.C.M. 010 |
Rompin' & Stompin' Around |
● CD $14.98 |
A fine and varied selection of material from this versatile
duo who perform a wide range of material. No duplication with the two CDs on
Cattle. 20 tracks.
THE SHELTON BROTHERS: A Prisoner's Dream/ At The Shelby County Fair/ Budded
Roses/ Deep Elem Blues/ I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes/ It's Hard To
Love And Not Be Loved/ Just Because/ Lover's Farewell/ Match Box Blues/
Ridin' On A Hump Back Mule/ Rompin' And Stompin' Around/ She Was Happy Till
She Met You/ Somebody Stole My Darling/ Story Of Seven Roses/ Sweet Evalina/
Tell Me With Your Blue Eyes/ That's A Habit I Never Had/ Way Down In
Georgia/ When It's Night Time In Nevada/ Who's Gonna Cut My Baby's Kindling
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THE SHELTON BROTHERS |
Cattle 241 |
Down On the Farm |
● CD $18.98 |
Collection of 25 sides by this excellent duo recorded
between 1935 and 1940. A mixture of blues, novelty songs, western flavored
songs, risque songs (Knot Hole Blues is particularly raunchy) and
sentimental songs with varied accompaniments including Cliff Bruner, Bob
Dunn, Felton Harkness and others. Songs include Down On The Farm/ I'm
Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail/ Alone With My Sorrows/ Ace In the Hole/
Don't Leave Me All Alone and more.
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THE SHELTON BROTHERS |
Cattle 258 |
A Hillbilly And Western Swing Legend |
● CD $18.98 |
Complementing Cattle 241 - 26 more fine sides by excellent
duo with sidemen like Cliff Bruner, Bob Dunn, Moon Mullican, Gene Sullivan
and others.
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JEAN SHEPARD |
B.A.C.M. 170 |
This Has Been Your Life |
● CD $14.98 |
25 tracks, 64 minutes, highly recommended
One of premier
stylists from country music's golden age, Jean Shepard unabashedly sang
about heartbreak and the emotional consequences resulting from illicit
affairs. Possessing a brassy, full-throated delivery similar to Kay
Starr's, she signed with Capitol when she was eighteen years old. Her
second record, a cover of Fuzzy Owen and Bonnie Owens' weeper A Dear
John Letter, struck gold in 1953; other chart hits soon followed,
including A Satisfied Mind/ Beautiful Lies/ Take Possession and
I Thought of You. This B.A.C.M. collection primarily focuses on
Shepard's prime 1952-56 output, mostly recorded in Hollywood with such
sidemen as Speedy West, Lewis Talley, Roy Nichols and Buck Owens. Hank
Fort's novelty I Didn't Know the Gun Was Loaded comes from an Armed
Forces Recruiting Services transcription. With the Country Music
Foundation's single-disc Shepard anthology long out of print, this
collection serves as a worthy introduction to this longtime Opry member.
Sound is better than usual for B.A.C.M.; British country singer Gerry Ford
penned a brief bio and appreciation. (DS)
JEAN SHEPARD: A Dear John Letter/ A Satisfied Mind/ Be
Honest With Me/ Beautiful Lies/ Crying Steel Guitar Waltz/ Did You Tell
Her About Me/ Don't Fall In Love With A Married Man/ Don't Rush Me/
Forgive Me John/ Glass That Stands Beside You/ He Loved Me Once And He'll
Love Me Again/ I Didn't Know The Gun Was Loaded/ I Learned It All From
You/ I Thought Of You/ Just Give Me Love/ Please Don't Divorce Me/ Take
Possession/ Thank You Just The Same/ This Has Been Your Life/ Twice The
Lovin' In Half The Time/ Two Hoops And A Holler/ Why Did You Wait/ You
Sent Her An Orchid You Sent Me A Rose/ You'll Come Crawlin'/ You're
Calling Me Sweetheart Again
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JEAN SHEPARD |
Bear Family BCD 15905 |
The Melody Ranch Girl |
● CD $119.98 |
5 CDs, 151 tracks, recommended
Anyone who bought the Country
Music Foundation's Jean Shepard CD and wanted more can have it with this,
her complete Capitol output from 1952 through 1964 (she stayed on the
label until 1972). One can hear her go from teenaged singer on her first
unsuccessful single, Crying Steel Guitar Waltz, with Speedy West on
steel, to hit artist. The breakthrough came when Capitol producer Ken
Nelson teamed her with Ferlin Husky, who'd also had no hits, Their 1953
ballad A Dear John Letter was the breakthrough for both. After time
in Missouri and Texas, Shepard moved to Nashville and joined the Opry in
1955. Until 1958, she still recorded in L.A. with some of Bakersfield's
best sidemen (including Buck Owens on guitar). All her hits during these
12 years are included, Forgive Me John with Ferlin, A Satisfied
Mind, Beautiful Lies and I Thought of You, Second
Fiddle (To An Old Guitar), and everything else in between, including a
dozen previously unreleased tracks. All of her albums in this period, from
her pioneering 1956 concept LP "Songs of A Love Affair", the
chronicle of a broken relationship from a woman's standpoint through her
eventual recovery. Other LPs encompassed by the collection are
"Lonesome Love", "Lighthearted and Blue", "Got
You On My Mind", "It's A Man Every Time", "Heartaches
and Tears" and "This Is Jean Shepard" also appear.
Naturally, the sound is outstanding, as is the 35 page booklet, which
features many rare photos and memorabilia, a complete discography and an
outstanding essay by Chris Skinker. (RK)
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JEAN
SHEPARD & TOMMY OVERSTREET |
Gusto 2004 |
Sing 15 Gospel Hits in their Own Style |
● CD $6.98 |
Jean Shepard sings seven cuts including Rock of Ages/
Blessed Assurance/ Crying Holy, Rock of Ages. Tommy Overstreet Sings
eight cuts including In the Garden/ Blessed Assurance/ Leaning on the
Everlasting Arms.
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RILEY SHEPARD |
Cattle 287 |
The Cowboy Philosopher |
● CD $18.98 |
20 tracks from East Coast based cowboy singer recorded in
mid 40s with, probably, Vaughn Horton on steel guitar.
RILEY SHEPARD: Atomic Power/ Blue Christmas/ Guilty Heart/ Honey, Be My
Honey Bee/ I Can't Give You Back Your Heart/ I Trusted You/ I Was Never
Nearer Heaven In My Life/ I've Got A Gal In Laramie/ It Was Fun While It
Lasted/ Judy (you're My Angel)/ Just Because/ Missouri/ Postman Doesn't Call
At My Door Anymore/ Silver Dew On The Bluegrass Tonight/ Slap Her Down Agin,
Pa/ Sweet Corina Blues/ Take That Tombstone Off My Grave/ The Blue Tail Fly/
Wear A Little Sunshine In Your Smile/ Yip-i-addy Nevady
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GLEN SHERLEY |
Bear Family BCD 16845 |
Live At Vacaville, California |
● CD $21.98 |
Country singer and songwriter Glen Sherley was one of the
inmates at Folsom Prison when Johnny Cash played his famous live concert
in 1968 and one of the songs Cash sang was Sherley's Greystone Chapel.
Cash took an interest in Sherley's fate after he was released in 1971 and
helped him land a contract with Mega Records. He recorded an album live at
Vacaville Prison - many of the songs dealing with his prison experiences.
This CD reissues that LP plus two rare singles that never made it to the
original LP.
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ARKIE SHIBLEY |
Collector 2856 |
Hot Rod Race |
● CD $17.98 |
25 cuts from late 40s/ early 50s including several versions
of the title song - his only hit and some fine guitar instrumentals
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MERVIN SHINER |
B.A.C.M. 125 |
Steppin' Out |
● CD $14.98 |
27 tracks by this obscure but engaging country singer from
Bethlehem, Pa. recorded in the 40s and early 50s including a couple that
were minor hits. Arrangements are varied, generally honky tonk flavored
with nice steel guitar including tracks with Grady Martin's Slew Foot Five
- some with effective clarinet playing. Several tracks feature vocal back
up from the Jordanaires. Includes quite a few covers of other artist's
hits. Includes Our Love Isn't Legal/ If You've Got The Money, I've Got
The Time/ My Bucket's Got A Hole In It (very nice version with funky
acoustic guitar work)/ I Think I'm Gonna Cry Again/ Your Heart Is Too
Crowded/ Slippin' Around Withe Jole Blon/ Landslide Of Love/ Why Don't You
Haul Off And Love Me/ Soft Lips/ Little Liza Lou, etc.
MERVIN SHINER: Ace In The Hole/ Almost/ Gra Mamou/ Great
Speckled Bird/ I Overlooked An Orchid/ I Think I’m Gonna Cry Again/ If
Teardrops Were Pennies/ If You’ve Got The Money, I’ve Got The Time/ I’m
Going Through Jesus/ I’m Gonna Tie A Little String Around Your Finger/
Landslide Of Love/ Let’s Take A Trip To The Moon/ Little Liza Lou/ Man In
The Moon Cried Last Night/ Me Without You/ My Bucket’s Got A Hole In It/
Old Kentucky Waltz/ Our Love Isn’t Legal/ Settin’ The Woods On Fire/
Slippin’ Around With Jole Blon/ Soft Lips/ Steppin’ Out/ Sweet Mama Blues/
Take A Little Silver/ The Lightning Express/ Why Don’t You Haul Off And
Love Me/ Your Heart Is Too Crowded
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CAL SHRUM |
B.A.C.M. 169 |
And His Rhythm Rangers & Colorado
Hillbillies |
● CD $14.98 |
32 tracks, recommended
Fine collection of sides featuring
groups led by Missouri born Cal Shrum drawn from transcriptions. These
groups featured some of the earliest appearances of Tex Williams and Spade
Cooley. The earliest recordings from 1936 or early 1937 transcriptions for
the obscure Titan company features a mix of old time and western with Cal
joined by his brother Walt on vocals and guitars, "Pappy" Hoag on fiddle,
Carl "Brick" Hansen on accordion and others. The next batch are from 1938
by which time the group had changed considerably with Spade Cooley joining
on fiddle, Hansen replaced on accordion by the remarkable 13 year old
"Tony" Fiore and other changes and the material becomes more western
flavored. By 1942 the brothers had split and Walt took several members of
the group with him and kept the name Colorado Hillbillies and Cal kept
Cooley and added several other musicians including the fabulous Django
styled guitarist Cene Haas to form The Rhythm Rangers. 18 tracks by this
group from 1942 McGregor transcriptions are featured including hot swing
numbers, sentimental ballads like Old Shep and wetsrn flavored
items. Altogether a varied and entertaining set of performances with
excellent sound and informative notes from Kevin Coffey. (FS)
CAL SHRUM & HIS RHYTHM RANGERS: A Letter Edged In Black/
Arkansas Traveler/ Blonde Fiddle Blues/ Blue Eyed Ellen/ Blue Streak/
Closing Theme/ Cooley Stomp/ Covered Wagon Rolled Right Along/ Cowboy's
Dream/ Dry Your Eyes/ Eighth Of January/ Fit # 5/ Gal I Left Behind Me/
Grey Eagle/ Haas Special/ Happy Rhythm Ranger (happy Roving Cowboy)/
Hillbillies Request/ Little Brown Jug/ Lonely Rider/ New Frontier/ Old Joe
Clark/ Old Shep/ Opening Theme/ Polly Wolly Doodle/ Rhythm Ranger's Waltz/
Shack By The Railroad Track/ Spade's Blues/ Spasm # 2/ Texas Jive/ That's
The Reason Why/ The Wreck Of The Old 97/ They Drew My Number/ Walking The
Floor Over You/ You Don't Love Me
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GEORGE SHUFFLER |
Freeland 657 |
Cross Pickin' |
● CD $15.98 |
Entertaining, though absurdly short (less than 19 minutes!)
collection of traditional religious songs performed by country guitarist
best known for his work with The Stanley Brothers and then Ralph Stanley.
Songs include Will You Miss Me/ Life's Railway To Heaven/ The Promise/
Lonely Tombs/ Little Rosewood Casket and five more performed in his
unique "cross-picking" style.
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RICKY SKAGGS |
Rounder 0151 |
Family & Friends |
● CD $16.98 |
Fine album includes Ricky's parents Hobert & Dorothy -
plus Peter Rowan, Bobby Hicks, Jerry Douglas and others on a selection of
acoustic country music
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RICKY SKAGGS
& KEITH WHITLEY |
Rebel 1504 |
Second Generation Bluegrass |
● CD $15.98 |
Re-released with new packaging including 12 page booklet and
newly remastered. Ricky and Keith were just kids when they cut this one in
1971, while they were still touring with Ralph Stanley's Clinch Mountain
Boys (who back them here--with Roy Lee Centers on guitar and Curly Ray
Cline on fiddle). Their love for the Stanley Brothers sound, combined with
their harmonizing, led Ralph to perform songs he hadn't done since his
brother Carter Stanley died in 1967. The two are young, but the potential
is clear. Don't Cheat in Our Hometown, the same song Skaggs took to
# 1 in 1983, leads off. All I Ever Loved Was You came from Ricky's
mom and Son of Hobert was an instrumental tribute to Ricky's
father. Keith plays a tantalizing instrumental f Wildwood Flower
and together they tackle two Stanley vocal chestnuts: Memories of
Mother and This Weary Heart You Stole Away. If you want to know
where the two of them started, this will answer your questions. (RK)
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